Unplanned pregnancy: Am I pregnant? Symptoms to look out for

Unplanned pregnancy: Am I pregnant? Symptoms to look out for

A significant percentage of women fall pregnant by mistake, so if you’re worried that you may be facing an unplanned pregnancy, you’re not alone. Even those who take precautions, like using birth control or condoms, are not completely safe from a slip-up. Condoms can break, and birth control may be rendered ineffective by medication or incorrect use.

All of this means that pregnancy could be a possibility – and you may either be overjoyed about it or, if it was unplanned, you may be feeling shocked, overwhelmed, confused or afraid.

First things first: make sure you’re pregnant

Home pregnancy tests are generally quite accurate. They work by detecting a hormone that is only present in your body when you’re pregnant, called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

However, this hormone can stay in your system for up to six to eight weeks after an abortion or miscarriage, so a positive pregnancy test isn’t necessarily concrete proof that you’re currently pregnant. To be 100% certain, you must visit your doctor or clinic for a blood test.

Symptoms of pregnancy

There are other indications besides a lack of menstruating that can indicate you’re pregnant, like:

Lighter or shorter periods

Feeling unusually tired

Frequently urinating

Nipple sensitivity

Nausea and/or vomiting

Feeling bloated

Changes in appetite

Changes in emotional state

Stomach cramps

These symptoms can also be indicative of other things, so don’t just assume you’re pregnant until your doctor has confirmed it, and keep using birth control in the interim.

Can I fall pregnant even if I didn’t have sexual intercourse?

Any time a woman has penetrative vaginal sex with a man, there’s the chance she could fall pregnant. However, in extremely rare cases, you could technically fall pregnant without actual penis-to-vagina contact – for example, if sperm gets onto your vulva, right near the entrance to your vagina, or if there’s semen on a hand or finger that is then inserted into your vagina.

That said, sperm can only survive outside of the body for a few minutes to a maximum of a few hours, so falling pregnant without having had actual intercourse is very unlikely.

Take your time

Once the pregnancy is confirmed, you may be feeling some intense emotions – emotions that you need time to process. You don’t have to make any decisions right away, but bear in mind that if you are wanting to terminate, abortion is possible up until 20 weeks into your pregnancy.

Remember: what you decide to do about your pregnancy is your choice. You and you alone are in charge of your body, and while you may want to hear the thoughts and opinions of others as you weigh up your options, you have the power and the right to make the final decision, be it abortion, adoption or parenting.

Making your decision

If your pregnancy was unplanned, you’ll need time to adjust to the news and process the massive amount of emotions you’re probably feeling.

Take the time you need to weigh up your options. Not being ready to parent is totally okay, and it’s your decision. You shouldn’t let anyone guilt you into making a decision that isn’t right for you. After all, this could change your life forever.

The options available to you are abortion, adoption or parenting. We have some helpful information that could help you start drawing up a list of pros and cons.

Whether you need someone to talk through your options with or you’ve made the decision to terminate, we can help.

Find your closest Marie Stopes centre and make an appointment online. And remember: never use an illegal abortion provider – it could cost you your life. Rather, turn to us for a safe, legal and affordable termination. Good luck with your decision – you are not alone.

More Information

Quick Facts

Sterilisation: If you know for sure that you don't want any more children this can be good. Implants: Last for 3 years. Just remember to replace after 3 years! IUD: Many people like it cause once it's in, it works for 5 years. You can ask for one without hormones if you want. (But remember condoms to protect against infection!)

Some people think that it's OK for the man to pull out of the vagina before he comes. NO! There can be sperm in the fluid that comes out before he comes – leading to pregnancy or infection.

Get Help

If you think you may be pregnant, DO A PREGNANCY TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – you can get these tests from the pharmacy or your clinic or doctor. If you have an unwanted pregnancy, the sooner you know, the better you can be helped to choose what to do.

There are lots of government clinics that give free family planning. Look in the phone book or call a local clinic to find the closest one. Marie Stopes are South African government-approved reproductive health clinics.

More Information

More on Abortion

It is legal for women of any age to have an abortion in South Africa. No parental or partner permission is needed. It is your body and your decision to end or keep the pregnancy … nobody can force you. It is very important to go to a registered, legal facility. There are many people who advertise abortion services, but many are not legal and having a ‘backstreet abortion’ could be dangerous to your health and life.

Any woman can ask for an abortion in the first three months (12 weeks) of pregnancy. If you are three to five months (13-20 weeks) pregnant, an abortion can be performed under certain circumstances. It is very important to act quickly, the earlier you seek help the better.

You can visit your doctor who will refer you to an appropriate facility and a consultation fee will be charged. You can go to a private organisation such as Marie Stopes where there will be also be a charge. Some government facilities offer abortions for free, see link below for a list of local government facilities which offer the service.

Medical abortion: Tablets to end an early pregnancy can be taken up until the 9th week of pregnancy. You will be given pills to take at the clinic and to take at home. It will cause you to bleed like a period, but it might be heavier than your normal period.

Surgical abortion: The pregnancy is removed whilst you are at the facility, typically through vacuum aspiration.

If the abortion is done by a legal provider at a legal facility, problems after the procedure are rare. A trained counsellor will discuss your options and advise you on which family planning methods are suitable for you.